KIRKLAND – Tired of watching big plays go just beyond the grasp of safety Michael Boulware, the Seattle Seahawks did something that could prevent that from happening again anytime soon.
They benched him.
Boulware, who has started 26 consecutive regular-season games for the Seahawks, was demoted, coach Mike Holmgren announced Wednesday. Jordan Babineaux is expected to take his place in the starting lineup for Sunday’s game at Kansas City.
“We’re just making a change right now to see if it can help us not give up the big play so much,” Holmgren said, “which has been a little bit of a problem this season.”
Boulware has not been solely responsible for the spat of big plays allowed, but he’s been the most obvious victim. As Holmgren said of his position, “Everybody in the world sees you on the field, what happens at the play. A lot of times they don’t see the nose tackle.”
And so Boulware became the first defensive player to lose his starting job on a defense that has struggled in recent weeks.
Boulware was taking the news in stride Wednesday.
“Initially I was a little disappointed and hurt, like anyone else would be. No one wants to lose their job,” said Boulware, who talked to reporters after practice. “But I’m going to be a man about it, find a positive, and help the team out in any way I can. They pay me to help the team in any role that is. I don’t make the decision what it is.”
Boulware has been in the vicinity on each of the last four touchdowns allowed by the Seattle defense.
St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt out-jumped him for a 67-yard touchdown pass in the final two minutes of Seattle’s 30-28 win 11 days ago.
Boulware bit on two play fakes in the Minnesota game on Sunday, resulting in a pair of touchdown passes, then could be seen trying to chase down Vikings running back Chester Taylor on a 95-yard run. Taylor’s touchdown was more about failed gap control at the line of scrimmage than it was Boulware’s play, but the safety did admit that he’s been out of position on occasion.
“I think one of the things that got me the trouble the most when I was out there was my eyes, and what I was looking at out there,” Boulware said. “That’s one thing I have to focus on.”
As Holmgren said: “I want (Boulware) to go from A to B to C. And then, react and let your instincts and all that other stuff work for you.”
The decision to bench Boulware was not easy for Holmgren on a personal level.
“Michael Boulware’s made some of the great plays since I’ve been here as coach,” Holmgren said. “He beat Miami (with an interception return for a touchdown in 2004), he saved the game against Minnesota (with a late interception later that season), and he cares as much as anybody on the football team.
“The fact is that he moved from linebacker to safety, and at times, in reading keys and reacting, he reacts more like a linebacker than a safety. And he has to act more like a safety.”
Like Boulware, Babineaux has made some big plays in his career. He has yet to start an NFL game at safety, although he does have four career starts at cornerback.
“Coach decided to make the switch, and it’s time for me to be productive,” Babineaux said.
Boulware’s teammates certainly took notice of the decision, but defensive end Grant Wistrom said he didn’t feel like it necessarily sent any kind of a message to the team.
“There’s not a person in this room that isn’t replaceable, whether they’re not playing well or if somebody can do it younger and cheaper,” Wistrom said. “We’re all expendable, and we know that.”
Holmgren believes that Boulware will work his way back into the starting lineup at some point – perhaps even later this season.
“Michael Boulware’s going to be fine,” Holmgren said, adding that Boulware will still see plenty of playing time in nickel situations. “He’s just going to take a rest for a second and not be on the front lines.”
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